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Compatibilism

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Compatibilism (also known as soft determinism), is the belief that God's predetermination and meticulous providence is "compatible" with voluntary choice. In light of Scripture, human choices are believed to be exercised voluntarily but the desires and circumstances that bring about these choices about occur through divine determinism (see Acts 2:23 & 4:27-28). It should be noted that this position is no less deterministic than hard determinism - be clear that neither soft nor hard determinism believes man has a free will. Our choices are only our choices because they are voluntary, not coerced. We do not make choices contrary to our desires or natures. Compatibilism is directly contrary to libertarian free will. Therefore voluntary choice is not the freedom to choose otherwise, that is, without any influence, prior prejudice, inclination, or disposition. Voluntary does mean, however, the ability to choose what we want or desire most. The former view is known as contrary choice, the latter free agency. (Note: compatibilism denies that the will is free to choose otherwise, that is, free from the bondage of the corruption nature,for the unregenerate, and denies that the will is free from God's eternal decreee.)

Christ dwells within us not for the purpose of sinking our being into His being, nor of substituting Himself for us as the agent in our activities; much less of seizing our wills and operating them for us in contradiction to our own immanent mind; but to operate directly upon us, to make us good, that our works, freely done by us, may under His continual leading, be good also.
B.B. Warfield

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Title Notes
Freedom of the Will Jonathan Edwards (.pdf)icon
Freedom of the Will Jonathan Edwardsicon
Free Will and Moral Responsibility John Frameicon
Determinism, Chance and Freedom John Frameicon
Are There Two Wills in God? John Piper - Divine Election and God's Desire for All to Be Savedicon
Concerning the Will: An historical and analytical essay examining Martin Luther's treatise 'The Bondage of the Will' Ken Ristauicon
Compatibalism, Incompatibalism, Pessimism, Moral Responsibility, Metaphysics and Moral Psychology, and Challenges to Pessimism Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophyicon
Foreordination & Free Will Greg Bahnsenicon
Augustine's Concept of Freedom: The Dynamic of Sin and Grace Gregory S. Nealicon
The Power of Free-Will in Preparing us for Conversion unto God John Owenicon
God's Will and Man's Will Charles Spurgeonicon
Do We Have Free Will? Andrew Naselliicon
Theological Compatibilism - A Case of Faith Seeking Understanding Paul Helmicon
The Sovereignty of God Over Man Jeff Spry (pdf)icon
Compatibilistic Determinism J.H. Hendryxicon
Is God's Grace Suspended Until We Act? B.B. Warfieldicon
The Argument of Romans 9:14-16 John Pipericon
Predestination and Human Freedom Matthew Permanicon
Agent Causation and Free Will John Frameicon
Reflections on Jonathan Edwards' View of Free Will W. Tullian Tchividjianicon
Prayer and Predestination John Piper - "A Conversation BT Prayerful and Prayerless"icon
Evil and Free Will Ra McLaughlinicon
Human Freedom Part I G. C. Berhouwericon
Human Freedom Part II G. C. Berhouwericon
If God is Sovereign Can Man Be Free Steve Weavericon
If God is sovereign, Why Do Anything? Matt Permanicon
Free Will Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophyicon
Open Theism and Libertarian Free Will CARMicon
Free Will/Determinism Glossary Bob and Gretchen Passantinoicon
God's Grace or the Free Will of Man Nick Bibileicon
Free Will -- Polytheistic W. E. Besticon
Election, Free Will, Fairness, and Evangelism Dave Hatchericon
Does God Desire The Salvation Of All Men? Brian Andersonicon
Of Free Will The Westminster Confession of Faithicon
God's Will and Man's Will Horatius Bonaricon
For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free John Pipericon
Free Grace Verses Free Will W. E. Besticon
Is Man's Will Free? Thomas R. Thompsonicon
Of Free Will An Exposition Of The Westminster Confession Of Faith Robert Shawicon
The Two systems Contrasted Loraine Boettnericon
Do We Have Free Will? C. M. McMahonicon
Does Man Have a Free Will? Michael Gowensicon
Free Will or Free Grace Don Chandlericon
13 Things a Lost Person Cannot Do Curtis A. Pughicon
The Bondage Of The Will Steven Houckicon
Man's Inability Thomas Guthrieicon
Why Does He Still Find Fault? Ra McLaughlinicon
Why Salvation Must Be Supernatural Stephen Charnockicon
The Consistency of Divine Sovereignty and Human Accountability Matt Permanicon
Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility Briefly Harmonized Matt Permanicon
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Recommended Reading

Freedom of
the Will

by Jonathan Edwards


God Sovereign and Man Free
by Nathan Lewis Rice


How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil
by D.A. Carson


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